Matt Checking In For The Last Time

Here is my fellow North Carolinan Keener Joey Practicing his Seal 

Launch

Hey guys, this is Matt Smith. Today is the last Tuesday I will spend at Keeners for a long time. Today we finished off our Swiftwater Rescue Training (SRT) course. Some things that we learned include wading through current, tethered swims, throw bagging and gear entrapments. It was very interesting trying to "survive" a gear entrapment. The way that we went about simulating it was by tying a strap to our PFD and being held down in gently flowing water. The goal was to take off your helmet and PFD without taking a breath. I learned a lot about staying calm underwater.

My favorite part of the day was when I had to swim out an save Canon. I was attached to a rope by a quick-release belt around my waist, I had a rope manager behind me to keep the rope from getting caught on rocks and there was a belayer and anchorer behind him. I jumped out into the current and grabbed Canon's PFD to pull him to shore, the only problem that arose was keeping warm once we got out of the water. We all tried this method and were all successful at least once.

Tommorow we are going to go Huck the Gnar on the Rouge. I am so excited for the Seven Sisters
 I love it here,
-Matt